Rein-support.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

T. G. THOMPSON. REIN SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1906.

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1%. 888,552. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908 T. c. THOMPSON. I

REIN SUPPORT. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1906- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THOMAS CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON, OF HALEY, TENNESSEE.

RE IN-SUPPORT Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed November 13, 1906. Serial No. 343,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haley, in the county of Bedford and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Rein-Support, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in rein supports.

'The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of rein supports, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient device, designed for use on various styles of one horse vehicles, and adapted to hold the reins out of reach of a horses tail, when it is lashing flies, or switching its tail from any other cause.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rein support of this character, which will not be in the way when hitching or unhitching a horse, or in any manner interfere with such operations and which will prevent the reins from dropping to the ground and getting under the feet of a horse.

The invention also has for its object to provide a rein support, adapted to guide the reins and relieve the person driving of the strain and pressure, thereby rendering driving easy, restful and pleasant.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rein support, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device and a portion of the shafts. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the manner of securing the rein support to the shafts. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the rein support. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rein support, illustrating another form of the invention.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a rein support, consisting substantially of an arched frame, mounted on the shafts 2 of a vehicle and arranged at an inclination to arch'the rear portion of a horse for holding the lines 3 out of contact with the tail of an animal, when itis lashing flies, or switching its tail from any other cause. The arched frame, which is secured to the shafts by clamps 4, or other suitable means, has the upper portions at its sides .curved inwardly, and it is provided at the top with an oblong extension 5, composed of straight parallel sides and a transversely disposed end portion 6. The sides of the arched frame are con nected at the inner ends of the side extensions 5 by a cross piece 7 ,which is arranged in parallelism with the outer end piece 6. The ends of the cross piece 7 are provided with eyes 8, which embrace the sides of the extension 5.

The clamps 4, which embrace the shafts 2, are substantially rectangular, and are provided with out-turned terminals, which are connected by bolts 9, adapted to cause the clamps to firmly secure the lower ends of the sides of the arched frame to the shafts. The lower ends 10 of the sides are referably flattened or enlarged to fit the 0 amps and are arranged upon the upper faces of the shafts.

The arched frame or arch is preferably constructed of rod metal and is composed of two side rods, but it may be made of any other suitable material, and the oblong extension 5 and the cross piece 7 at the inner end thereof, form a substantially rectangular frame for supporting the lines, which pass through the guide openings 11 and 12. The guide openings 11 and 12 are formed by a transverse rod or member 13 ,and a longitudinal rod or member 14. The reins slide freely through the guide openings 11 and 12, and the person driving is relieved of the strain and pressure incident to holding and supporting the lines.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the transverse and longitudinal rods or members 13 and 14 are in the form of a clasp and are adapted to be swung upwardly from the extension or frame of the guide to permit the lines to be readily placed in and removed from the latter. The longitudinal rod or member 14 is provided at its ends with eyes 15 and 16; the eye 15 at the front end of the rod or member 14 encircles the transverse rod or member and forms a bearing for the same, and the rear eye 16 when the reins are unsupported.

embraces the end piece 6. The transverse l rod or member 13 has its terminals bent to l form depending arms or projections 17, which extend below the sides of the extension j 5. The said transverse rod or member is adapted to turn in the eye of the longitudinal rod or member, and the arms or projections 17 are maintained normally in their engaging position by a spring, preferably consisting of a central loop 18 and side coils 19. The central loop arches the longitudinal rod or member 14, and the side coils are engaged on the transverse rod or niemlt er, the outer terminals 20 of the coils being engaged with the projecting arms 17. The longitudinal bar or memberis engaged at its rear end by a loop 21 of a rear spring, having opposite coils 22, the terminals of which are arranged with the sides of the extension 5. The coiled springs hold the clasp of the guide in its closed or engaging position, and at the same time enable the clasp to be readily opened for placing the lines in or remove them from the guide. In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the guide is rigid with the arched frame, which is pro-.ided with a rectangular extension 23, and an inner connecting cross piece 24. The guide has openings 25 and 26 formed by transverse and longitudinal rods or members 27 and 28. The transverse rod or member is provided at its end with eyes 29, which embrace the sides of the extension 23, and the longitudinal rod or member is provided with ends and intermediate eyes. The front and rear eyes 30 and 31 secure the longitudinal rod or member j to the cross piece 24 and to the outer end 1 piece of the extension, and the intermediate 1 eye 32 receives the transverse rod or member. The guide, however, may be constructed in various other ways, as will be readily understood. It is adapted to permit the lines to slide freely through it, and it not only supports them above and out of contact with the tail of a horse, but it also relieves the driver of the strain and pressure incident to driving, Also the arch of the support is arranged clear of the horse and does not interfere with the hitching or unhitching of the same to a vehicle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. A rein support comprising an arched j l l j.

frame consisting of a pair of guide rods and provided at the top with a rearwardly extending guide having separate openings for the reins.

2. A rein support comprising an arched l frame arranged at an inclination and extend 1' ing upwardly and rearwardly, clamps for securing the lower ends of the sides of the frame to the shafts of avehicle, and a rein guide extending rearwardly from the arched frame and having openings for the reins.

3. A rein support provided with a projecting guide frame, and a spring actuated clasp composed of longitudinal and transverse members dividing the'spaces within the frame into separate rein-receiving openings.

4. A rein support comprising an arched frame having a substantially rectangular extension, a cross piece connecting the sides of the extension at the inner ends thereof, a longitudinal member hinged to the outer end of the extension, and a transverse member connected with the inner end of the longitudinal member and engaging the sides of the extension.

5. A rein support comprising an arched frame composed of a pair of side rods having an integral substantially rectangular extension, a cross piece connecting the sides of the extension at the inner ends thereof, a longitudinal member hinged to the outer end of the extension, and a transverse member connected with the inner end of the longitudinal member and having projections or arms arranged exteriorly of the sides of the extension.

6. A rein support com )rising an arched frame having a substantially rectangular ex tension, a cross piece connecting the sides of the extension at the inner ends thereof, a longitudinal member hinged to the outer end of the extension, a transverse member connected with the inner end of the member and having projections or arms arranged exteriorly of the sides of the extension, and a coiled spring arranged on the outer end of the extension and engaging the longitudinal member.

7. A rein support comprising a frame having spaced side rods provided with means for securing them to the shafts of a vehicle and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to arch the rear portion of a horse, a reduced rearward extension connecting the side rods, and longitudinal and transverse members mounted 011 the extension and dividing the space within the same into separate rein-receiving openings.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON.

WVitnesses SYD ELLINGTON, Svn HoUs'roN. 

